Shelf rack construction



Nov. 1, 1932. w. N. VANCE 1,886,318

SHELF RACK CONSTRUCTION Filed March 29, 1929 ZZZ//ZZ??? Patented Nov. 1,1932 f untrue STATES PATENT oFFic j insane wAL'rnn N. VANCE, or NORTHAURORA, ILLINoIs, AssIsNon 'ro LYoN METAL rnonucrs, INCORPORATED, orAURORA, ILLINoIs, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS SHELF RACK CONSTRUCTIONApplication filed March 29, 1929. Serial No. 350,938.

This invention relates to shelf racks and has more particular referenceto shelf racks provided for variable assemblage.

"A principal object of this invention is the 5' provision of anadjustableshelf rack of new and improved construction having an increased range of adjustment.

Another important object of the invention -is the provision of anadjustable shelf rack construction wherein a greater number of the shelfbearing and adjustment determining holes or slots in the rack uprightsmay be provided for a given height of shelf without weakening theconstruction or rendering itless rigid.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 11 ofFig. 2, showing "the shelf bearer in position in the upright forsupporting one of the shelves;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same taken.

on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line I 3-3 of Fig. 2 andthrough the forked end of the shelf bearer looking toward ing face ofthe upright, and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 7 44 of Fig. 2.

the supportfi-v On the drawing, I have shown so much of a shelf rackconstruction as will illustrate a preferred embodiment of my presentinvention. The shelf rack, except for the shelf bearers or supports, isconstructed of sheet 'metal and comprises rectangular or square tubularuprights 11 and side walls 12. The uprights 11 are formed with a pair offlanges 13 and 14 located at the central portion of the inner face 15 ofthe uprights. Each pair of flanges em braces one edge of the side wall12 extending vertically and from front to back, the edges of the sidewalls being firmly held between the flangesin any suitable manner toprovide a rigid wall structure.

appropriately arranged Theside edges of shelf 16'are bent to providedepending flanges 22 extending in front to back alinement with thesidewalls 12. After the shelf has beenadjusted tothe propor level, theside flanges 22 maybe secured, if desired, to the side walls by boltsand nuts 28 passed through registering holes respectively provided in-the side walls and flanges.

The shelves 16 are supported at the front and rear of the rack by meansof horizontal bearers or supports24 which are engaged in bearerreceiving holes'or slots in the uprights 11 in such manner as to permitextremely close spacing of the shelves at differen-t levels Withoutmaking it necessary to cut away from the upright 11 sufficient metal toimpair the supporting character of'the up right. As shown in Figs/3 and4, each up- 1:

right 11 is provided with a series of bearer re-' ceiving slots 25spaced equal distances apart.

Each slot is of circular formin its upper portion, asshown at 26, andsubstantially rectang'ular in its lowerportion, as shown at 27, therectangular portion being rower in widthbetween its opposite verticaledges-than the diameter of the circularportion. The bearer is positionedin the slots through the upper portion 26 and loweredinto the portion27, where it is securely held oilocked into position by engagement withthe side edges 28 of the lower portion. As shown in Fig. 4, the bearer24 comprises a supporting bar of I-beain construction, having a centralsomewhat narweb 29 and top and bottom flanges 30. It

will, however, be readily understood that bearers of other sectionalshape may be ad vantageously employed.

- At its opposite ends, the bearer24 is biso as to register with theedges 28 of the locking portions 27 of the slots. o The grooves 34 and35 are of such depth that the portion between them, as shown at 36, isappropriately dimensioned to engage within the portion 27 of the slot.It will be seen that with this construction a bearer24 may be readilypositioned in the upright by inserting the arms 31 and 32 of the. bearer,into the upper portions 26 of bearer receiving slots and then loweringthem into the portions 27 so that the edges 28 engage in the bearergrooves 34 and 35.

- The ends of the arms 31 and 32 are arranged a distance apart equal tothe distance between the centers of the slots in which they are to bereceived, whether these slots be adjacent or not. These arms 31 and 32,as shown in Fig. 2, are inclined respectively upwardly and downwardly inrespect of the longitudinal axis of the bearer and thus diverge towardtheir ends 33.

The construction of the bearer and bearer receiving slots just describedoccasions the engagement of a top and bottom part of a bearer inseparate slots, and each slot, therefore, does not have a vertical depthreceiving the entire upright portion of the bearer. vAs a result, theslots can be relatively short vertically, and a relatively greaternumber of them can be provided in a given length of upright, the whilemaintaining the predetermined spacing between adjacent slots desired forstrength and rigidity of construction. a

.The shelf 16 is preferably bent upwardly at 37 to accommodate theupwardly projecting inclined arm 31 of the bearer 24. Each shelf is cutaway at its corner adjacent the upright at 38 to permit the shelf to bepositioned in close proximity to the side wall and also to permit theflange 22 to be fastened to the side wall if desired. 7

It'is thought that this invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof. 7 v

Iclaim: i '1. The combination of an upright supporting member providedwith a series of bearer receiving slots, and a bearer comprising anI-beam having a central web and top and bottom flanges, the top andbottom flanges being spread apart and extending top and bottom of saidbar being spread apart at each end of the bar and extending above andbelow the normal top surface of the bar to provide upper and lowersupporting arms, said arms being received in said slots, said slotsbeing located so as to receive said arms, and a shelf supported by saidbar. a In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

- WALTER N. VANCE.

